14 March 2025 — As international leaders gather for the 9th Brussels Conference on Syria, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) is calling for bold and decisive action to address the urgent humanitarian and early recovery needs of Syrians. As witnessed this month with the reported killing of over 750 civilians in Syria’s coastal region, the security situation in Syria remains extremely fragile. Across the country millions of people are in need of assistance. With more than 14 years of conflict having driven a country-wide collapse of the economy and led to the protracted internal displacement of 7.2 million people.
Despite optimism that Syria has entered a new chapter, humanitarian, recovery and reconstruction needs remain at record levels. This year's Brussels Conference presents a unique opportunity— one that must be seized—to directly engage with Syria’s Caretaker Government and explore ways to work together to address the country’s challenges.
Imogen Sudbery, Executive Director at IRC Belgium, says:
“For the first time in 14 years, we have an opportunity to engage differently in Syria. This moment demands courageous decision-making and a commitment to take the necessary risks to drive improvements at scale. A failure to act decisively now will only prolong suffering and instability.”
The Brussels Conference comes as humanitarian actors have access to all parts of the country for the first time. But with this access comes the clarity of just how massive the scale of destruction is. Today, 81% of electricity networks, 61% of water networks, and nearly 50% of health infrastructure in Syria are destroyed. As a result, 16.7 million people inside Syria need humanitarian assistance, the highest number recorded since the conflict.
Meanwhile, outside of Syria, neighboring countries that have generously hosted approximately 6 million Syrian refugees for over a decade urgently require sustained international support to continue providing critical services and assistance. Despite significant movements in refugee intentions, according to an IRC survey conducted in late December a substantial number of refugees across the region – around 30% - still present no intention to return. Highlighting the need for hosting countries to continue to uphold the principle of safe and voluntary return. Syrian refugees who are waiting to return have said that having access to housing, education for their children and employment opportunities in their areas of return are all critical factors influencing their decisions of when to return home.
As humanitarian funding declines, Syrians inside the country and across the region face deepening hardships. Last year’s Syria Humanitarian Response Plan saw its largest funding gap to date, at 65.5% unfunded, which forced organizations to scale down and, in some cases, fully suspend services for Syrians in need. This year, the situation is even more dire. US aid funding suspensions have cut off life-saving services for millions of Syrians pushing them further to the brink of survival.
Inaction or delayed international support risks destabilizing Syria during its very fragile transition.
The IRC is urging donors and policymakers to fundamentally shift their approach by:
- Scaling up investment in both immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term early recovery support to improve Syrians’ access to services, economic opportunities and physical safety.
- Continuing to support host countries, ensuring that refugees continue to receive access to services and are given the time and information to make fully informed and dignified decisions about if or when they return.
- Enabling meaningful engagement with the Caretaker Government to address Syrians’ urgent needs in a principled and effective manner.
- Prioritizing durable solutions for displacement by investing in livelihood opportunities, infrastructure, and essential services, as well as fostering resilience and integration among affected communities.
Tanya Evans, IRC's Country Director in Syria, says:
“Across Syria, people are grappling with extreme poverty, devastated infrastructure, and an unrelenting economic crisis. Meanwhile, refugees in host countries face mounting pressures and uncertainty about their futures. This year’s Brussels Conference must result in clear, actionable commitments that both sustain humanitarian aid and enable Syrians to rebuild their lives with dignity and stability.”
As the Brussels Conference convenes, the IRC urges the EU and global donors to seize this critical moment. The international community must step up and deliver both the funding and solutions required to meet immediate humanitarian needs and lay the groundwork for Syria’s long-term recovery.